The Timeline X trailer music is by influenced by a range of artists/genres. The music is a combination of primarily synthwave with elements of Baroque.
Synthwave, also known as Retrowave or outrun, is an electronic musical style that emerged in the mid-2000s, influenced by 1980s soundtrack music. Synthwave is heavily inspired by new wave and the soundtracks of many 1980s films, videogames, cartoons and television shows and expresses nostalgia for the 1980s by attempting to capture the era’s atmosphere.
Baroque music is a style of classical music composed from the 1600s to the mid 1700s when orchestra was born. Baroque music is characterized by modern harmony and orchestral instruments such as the harpsichord.
I will be doing semiotic analysis of my influences based on Ferdinand de Saussure’s model of the sign. In semiotics for beginners David Chandler explains Saussure’s model of the sign in two components when he points out ‘a ‘signifier’ (signifiant) – the form which the sign takes; and the ‘signified’ (signifié) – the concept it represents.’ (Chandler, 2001)
I will explain how the signified of my influences represent certain eras or themes and how this is reflected in the setting/atmosphere of the Timeline X trailer.
Mitch murder is a synthwave artist who has released a number of EPs, albums and soundtracks. The signified or connotations of ‘Interceptor’ are sombre, night-time and the 80s. The 80s connotation which stands out the most is brought out by all of the the musical elements including synths, drums and bass which were common conventions found in popular 80s music. I maintained the 80s vibe throughout the trailer by using the LinnDrum – LM2 Samples that Mitch Murder uses in ‘Interceptor’ and often as his signature sound as well as various synths and basses. For instance during the intro part of the trailer that takes place at night in the industrial city I used these musical elements to create a dark bleak sound with an 80s vibe.
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer and musician and regarded as one of the most influential composers during the baroque period. The only instrument in this piece is the harpsichord which is a conventional instrument associated with the Baroque period. The signified or connotations of this piece are increased innovation and discovery, the renaissance and the theatre. Timeline X Takes place during the 1600s so to reflect the musical connotations of this piece and the 1600s I utilized the harpsichord. During the 1600s gameplay part trailer the harpsichord compliments the melody of the lead synths but isn’t at the forefront of the music because I wanted the 80s vibe to be the primary theme.
Vangelis is a composer of electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, pop rock, and orchestral music best known for his scores for Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner. ‘End Titles’ use of spacious synths and basses in minor chord patterns creates a dark mood which creates the signified or connotations of dystopian, industrial city, futuristic and the 80s. The intro setting of the Timeline X trailer is a retro industrial city set in a dystopian 2084 so to reflect the musical connotations of ‘End Titles’ I utilized spacious synths and basses in minor chord patterns to create a dark dystopian theme.
Wendy Carlos is a composer and pioneer in electronic music best known for her musical album ‘Switched-On Bach’ as well as film scores for ‘A Clockwork Orange’ and ‘The Shining’. The piece above is a reimagining of Wendy Carlos’ ‘Switched-On Bach’ which is an album released in 1968 and consisting of pieces by J.S Bach all performed on a moog synthesizer. ‘Switched-On Bach’ was the first of its kind to popularize classical music performed on electronic synthesizer. Furthermore to combine baroque music with electronic music. The signified or connotations of this piece are increased innovation and discovery, baroque music and electronic music. The connotations of this piece and ‘Switched-On Bach’ influenced my decision to combine baroque music with the electronic genre Synthwave.
Sources
Chandler, D. (2001) Semiotics for beginners. [Online] Available from: http://visual-memory.co.uk/daniel/Documents/S4B/sem02.html [Accessed 9th December 2015].